Echoes of the Civil War still resonate throughout Northern Virginia. To truly understand this pivotal period in our history, look no further than the life of Eppa Hunton. A prominent figure in our region, Hunton played a key role in the Secession Convention, commanded troops in battles fought on our very soil, and later served in Congress. His autobiography provides a firsthand account of the events that transformed Northern Virginia, offering invaluable insights into the challenges and sacrifices of those who lived through those times. This brief sketch of Eppa Hunton’s life is drawn from the Autobiography of Eppa Hunton, which is free to read and download at the Internet Archive.
Roots and Early Development
Eppa Hunton’s story begins on September 22, 1822, on his father’s farm, “Springfield,” in Fauquier County. His father, Eppa Hunton, and grandfather, James Hunton, were descendants of English settlers who arrived in Lancaster County, Virginia, around 1700. Hunton’s father, born January 30, 1789, was a man of considerable energy, serving as an officer in the War of 1812 and twice elected to the Virginia Legislature. He married Elizabeth Marye Brent and purchased “Mount Hope” in 1829 to be closer to the academy in New Baltimore. Young Eppa received his early education in the New Baltimore Academy, setting the stage for his future intellectual pursuits.
Hunton’s autobiography reflects on his family with pride, noting, “The Huntons of Virginia were remarkable for their intelligence, hospitality, integrity and good conduct.” This emphasis on integrity and service would become a hallmark of his own life. The early death of his father in 1830, when Eppa was only eight years old, marked the beginning of a “continual struggle from early orphanage.” Despite this hardship, Hunton demonstrated resilience. After graduating from the New Baltimore Academy, like his father who taught school for several years, he taught for three years while studying law. Lawyer John Webb Tyler sent his five sons to Hunton’s school in Buckland and provided him with free law instruction and books.
Forging a Legal Career
Hunton’s legal journey began in Brentsville, then site of the Prince William County Court, where he was licensed to practice law. He quickly established himself, winning election twice as Commonwealth’s Attorney, succeeding Tyler after he was elected a Judge of the Circuit
Court. This early success culminated in his marriage to Lucy Caroline Weir on June 14, 1848, uniting him with a “highly reputable Scotch family.” A daughter, Elizabeth, was born in 1853 but sadly died in 1854. Hunton’s family life was soon enriched by the birth of his son, Eppa Hunton, Jr., on April 14, 1855, whom he described as “the greatest comfort to his mother and to me.” He noted that his son “has never given me an hour’s trouble, except in smoking cigarettes.”
As Hunton’s legal career flourished, so did his involvement in politics. “I was a Democrat from my earliest youth,” he declared. “All of the Hunton name were Democrats.” His commitment to the Democratic Party led him to the national stage as a delegate to the party’s National Convention in 1856. Hunton favored renominating President Franklin Pierce, but the nomination went to James Buchanan. These formative years laid the groundwork for his later prominence, shaping his legal acumen and political sensibilities.
The Crucible of War
The tumultuous events leading to the Civil War tested Hunton’s convictions and redefined his life’s trajectory. As sectional tensions escalated, Virginia found itself at a crossroads: stay in the Union or join the Confederacy. Hunton actively participated in the Secession Convention. “I declared myself a candidate for this convention. Mr. Allen Howison … was a candidate against me. I was for immediate secession. Mr. Howison was unconditionally for the Union.” Hunton joined with the vast majority of delegates in signing the ordinance of secession. It was submitted to a public vote and approved, aligning Virginia with the Confederacy.
His commitment to the Southern cause extended beyond politics. Hunton resigned his position as Brigadier General of Militia to become Colonel of the 8th Virginia Infantry Regiment. Organized in Leesburg, the regiment drew men from Loudoun, Prince William, Fauquier and Fairfax counties. Hunton dedicated himself to recruiting, arming, equipping, and drilling his regiment. The 8th Virginia quickly gained a reputation for its fighting spirit and the capabilities of its men in the battles of First and Second Bull Run/Manassas, Ball’s Bluff, Peninsular Campaign, Frazier’s Farm, Gaines’ Mill, Malvern Hill, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg.
Hunton’s military service was marked by courage and leadership. At Ball’s Bluff, his strategic acumen and the bravery of his troops contributed significantly to the Confederate victory. Hunton cited the Gaines’ Mill battle as the unit’s most gallant charge. As senior Colonel, Hunton carried on the successful action of carrying the three fortified lines when General George Pickett was wounded early in the assault.
At Gettysburg, during the infamous Pickett’s Charge, Hunton was shot through the right leg. Despite the severity of his injury, Hunton’s thoughts turned to his men as he said his “first impulse was to get another horse and go on in the charge.” In addition to his wound Hunton suffered from a fistula, which caused him significant discomfort and led to periods of disability and leaves of absence. Despite undergoing multiple surgeries, the fistula never fully healed until after the war.
Hunton was promoted to brigadier general in August 1863 based on his performance during the Battle of Gettysburg. Assigned command of a brigade in Pickett’s division, he led this larger force in battles in defense of Richmond, at Cold Harbor, in defense of Petersburg, at Five Forks, and Sayler’s Creek. Hunton surrendered his troops to Union forces at Sayler’s Creek, three days before General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, marking the end of the Civil War.
The war years brought immense personal challenges. Hunton faced the constant threat of death and the hardship of separation from his family. Confederate money had depreciated so much that his pay would not support his wife and son, who at times had to live on army rations. “On one occasion they were reduced to a single beef bone,” he recounted, highlighting the sacrifices endured by those on the home front.
Navigating the Post-War Landscape
Following the Confederacy’s defeat and end of slavery, Hunton, like other Southerners, faced a dramatically altered world. Captured and imprisoned at Fort Warren in Boston, Massachusetts, he endured the humiliation of defeat and the uncertainty of the future. Upon his release, he returned to a devastated Virginia, determined to rebuild his life and career. Hunton reported losing his slaves to Union occupation of his home early in the war. Two he called “servant girls” remained at war’s end. He said, “I told these two girls … that they were free, and … paid their stage and car fare to Alexandria, where their parents had gone during the war.”
Hunton confronted significant financial obstacles. The war had destroyed his home and decimated the Virginia economy, leaving many, including Hunton, struggling to make ends meet. Despite these hardships, Hunton persevered, gradually regaining his footing in the legal profession. He chose Loudoun County to restart his law practice. Several companies of the old 8th Regiment were Loudoun men and he was well regarded there. Hunton thought that no non-resident lawyer ever got a finer practice than he had in Loudoun. Building on that success he moved his law office to Warrenton, expanding his practice to also serve clients in Fauquier and Prince William counties.
Hunton’s commitment to public service remained undiminished. He re-entered the political arena, winning election to Congress, serving four terms in the House of Representatives from 1873 to 1881. He chaired the District Committee, a position that brought both opportunities and challenges. Hunton tackled issues such as taxation and corruption within the District.
One of the most significant, and controversial, episodes in Hunton’s career was his appointment to the Electoral Commission in 1877. Created to resolve the deeply disputed 1876 presidential election between Samuel Tilden, the Democratic candidate, and Rutherford B. Hayes, the Republican nominee, the commission was composed of members from both the House and Senate, as well as justices of the Supreme Court. The commission was deeply divided along partisan lines. Hunton, as a Democratic member and the only member from a southern state, found himself at the center of a political firestorm.
The commission’s decisions, which ultimately favored Hayes, were met with widespread criticism and accusations of political manipulation. Hunton faced intense pressure from his friends and constituents, with some demanding that he resign from the commission. Despite the controversy, Hunton defended his role, arguing that he acted in accordance with his conscience and the best interests of the country. Hunton chose not to seek reelection to the House in 1880. Turning full attention to his law practice, He took his son into co-partnership under the firm name of Hunton & Son.
Hunton was appointed to the United States Senate in May 1892, filling the unexpired term of John S. Barbour. He was later elected to fill the remainder of the term. During his time in the Senate, Hunton addressed key issues such as tariff reform and the currency question.
Family, Later Years, and Enduring Legacy
Throughout his eventful life, Hunton remained devoted to his family, often including extended family members in his home. Lucy Caroline Weir, Hunton’s wife of fifty-one years, died on September 4, 1899. He lived his last years with Eppa Jr. and his son’s second wife Jincie (Virginia Payne Hunton), taking pride in his son’s accomplishments as a lawyer. In 1901 Eppa Jr. formed a law partnership in Richmond, leading the elder Hunton to sell his Warrenton property and move with him to Richmond.
In his later years, Hunton reflected on his life with a mixture of satisfaction and humility. “In reviewing my long life,” he wrote, “I feel that it has fallen far short of what it ought to have been.” Yet, he expressed gratitude for his children and hoped that he would leave “a reputation for integrity, patriotism and honor.” Eppa Hunton died on October 11, 1908, in Richmond and is buried there in Hollywood Cemetery.
Eppa Hunton’s life was a testament to the transformative power of history and the enduring strength of the human spirit. From the battlefields of Virginia to the halls of Congress, he navigated a complex and ever-changing world with unwavering conviction and a deep sense of duty. His story, preserved in his own words and the accounts of those who knew him, continues to resonate as a reminder of the challenges and triumphs that shaped the American experience.